A surge of over six million people is expected to hit the roads at the start of the summer holidays, contending with scorching 30C temperatures and heavy traffic congestion. The AA forecasts that 6.3 million individuals will embark on journeys from now through Thursday. The country is under yellow heat health alerts until tomorrow morning, with the UK Health Security Agency cautioning about potential impacts on health services and an increased risk to vulnerable individuals.
The Port of Dover is preparing for its busiest weekend of the summer as holidaymakers encounter delays while waiting for ferries. The ferry company DFDS reported wait times of up to 60 minutes at border controls in Dover today, with similar expectations for tomorrow. Despite the expected congestion, authorities are optimistic that this weekend’s travel experience will be smoother than during the May half-term period when technical issues with the new border check Entry Exit System caused waiting times to reach four-and-a-half hours.
Simon Williams from the RAC advised motorists to anticipate heavy traffic and delays this weekend and recommended planning journeys carefully, considering setting off earlier or later in the day to avoid traffic congestion. Staying at home this week also poses challenges as millions of Brits face hosepipe bans, and a drought has been officially declared in significant parts of north and mid-Wales.
Various regions in Wales and parts of central, southern, and eastern England are experiencing prolonged dry conditions, with some areas teetering on the brink of a drought. However, there is a glimmer of hope for rain from Sunday as high pressure moves away, bringing potential showers. The north and west could see heavier rainfall, with up to 20mm in some parts of north-west Scotland, while southern and eastern areas may only receive a few millimeters, if any. Some locations in southern England may remain rain-free.
The Met Office’s Dan Suri mentioned that after a prolonged period of hot and dry weather, a temporary change is expected this weekend as weather fronts move across the UK. While some regions may receive rain and showers, many areas are likely to experience minimal rainfall, particularly in southern England, where dry conditions are anticipated to persist. The following week could see temperatures rising again, potentially leading to very warm or even hot weather.
Meanwhile, wildfires in south-west France prompted the evacuation of thousands, including British holidaymakers, from the Cap Ferret peninsula. The fires have ravaged around 10,000 hectares so far, with water-bombing planes deployed to control the flames. French authorities reported that 40,000 people have been evacuated or are in the process of leaving the area.
In other parts of Europe, Spain declared a national emergency following fires near Madrid that forced 20,000 individuals to flee, while Sicily in Italy also faced fire emergencies.
